The Charles Danforth Gallery at the University of Maine at Augusta will open Black Box Warnings on May 9 at noon, immediately following Commencement. The exhibition features thesis work by UMA students Izzy Martinez and Natalie Rohman alongside mentors and UMA alumni artists Aylah Ireland ’17 and Tanya Russell ’11.
The exhibition explores uncertainty, memory and perception through photography, sculpture and mixed media. Drawing from the idea of “black box warnings” on prescription medications and the preserved record of an airplane’s black box, the featured artists examine what is visible, hidden, recoverable and unresolved.
Natalie Rohman’s work reflects her experience growing up with ADHD and navigating prescription medications from an early age. Using photography and sculpture, she transforms prescription bottles into vessels for plant life, documenting both growth and deterioration to explore the complicated realities of medication and identity. Her work also recalls the emotional extremes she experienced as a child, feeling withdrawn while on medication and impulsive without it. A sculptural installation resembling a cluttered bathroom shelf filled with pill bottles reflects the everyday visibility of that experience.
Izzy Martinez uses cinematic photography inspired by thriller films to capture moments suspended between safety and fear. Influenced by artists Cindy Sherman and Gregory Crewdson, her images recreate the uneasy “edge of your seat” feeling that leaves viewers wanting to look away while still compelled to see what happens next.
Aylah Ireland is a visual artist and researcher whose work explores identity, memory and recovery. Using photography and miniatures, she examines family history, environment and disordered substance use while treating artmaking as a process of mending. Her work reweaves personal history into a shared narrative that invites reflection and connection.
Tanya Russell’s work (shown at top) investigates perception and optics through imagery inspired by her experiences with degenerative myopia and astigmatism. Using mirrors, refraction and layered light, her photographs create disorienting perspectives that reflect unseen personal struggles while emphasizing resilience, self-acceptance and perseverance.
Black Box Warnings will be on view at the Charles Danforth Gallery through Aug. 23, 2026. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend the opening reception on May 9 at noon. For more information, contact Gallery Director Amy Rahn at amy.rahn@maine.edu.